Ink roller arrangement



p 18, 1956 .H. L. M WHORTER 2,763,207

INK ROLLER ARRANGEMENT 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 20/ 1951 NVBN'I'O-(erugg meQArhov-t'e/ lfi- 1956 H. L. M WHORTER 2,763,207

INK ROLLER ARRANGEMENT 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 20, 1951 /IYCATTORNESY/ -leng L, YflcQArhovte-w MM, F

P 1956 H. L. M WHORTER 2,763,207

INK ROLLER ARRANGEMENT 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed April 20, 1951 mvezm a-roQ-(eng Lm c mwvter- M641 ym Wv W United States Patent INK ROLLERARRANGEMENT Henry L. McWhorter, Hinsdale, 111., assignor to GossPrinting Press Company, Chicago, 11]., a corpo ration of IllinoisApplication April 20, 1951, Serial No. 222,135

Claims. (Cl. 101-348) assembly for an ink roller which permits theroller to be clamped securely in a pro-adjusted position relative to thepress and yet which permits the roller to be easily and quickly removed.

It is a further object to provide an ink roller socket assembly whichwill accommodate a relatively large range of roller sizes and whichpermits adjustment to be made to allow for roller swelling and the likewhile the press is running.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a roller socketassembly which may be mounted in any position on a printing press andwhich may be applied to existing presses without necessity for drillingholes through the frame into gear housings, vibrators and the like.

It is still another object of the invention to provide a roller socketassembly which permits of a simple roller throw-off mechanism.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent uponreference to the attached detailed descrip tion and drawing in which:

Figure 1 shows more or less schematically a portion of a printing pressto which the present invention is applicable;

Fig. 2 shows an ink roller socket assembly used for one of the inkrollers of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken along the line '33 in Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is an exploded view of the socket assembly of Figs. 2 and 3;

Fig. 5 is a diagram showing the geometrical relation of the rollers whenmounted in accordance with the present invention;

Fig. 5a shows an enlarged fragment of the hyperbolic curve in Fig. 5.

Fig. 6' is a view in elevation of the jig employed for adjusting therollers externally of the press and showing a roller mounted therein;

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary view of one end of the jig with a roller mountin partial section in order to illustrate the manner of adjustment.

While the invention is susceptible of various modifications andalternative constructions and uses, I have shown in the drawings andwill herein describe in detail one embodime'nt of the invention. It isto be understood, however, that I do not intend to limit the inventionby such disclosure but aim to cover all modifications and alternativeconstructions and uses falling within the spirit and scope of theinvention as expressed in the appended claims.

Referring now to Fig. 1, the portion of a printing Patented Sept. 1555,3%56 press which is there set forth includes a plate cylinder it), afirst form roller 11, a second form roller 22, both of the latterreceiving ink from an ink drum 13. in order to adjust the form rollerlit relative to the plate cylinder and ink drum, a socket assembly isprovided which is indicated generally at 14, and a similar socketassembly 15 is provided for the companion roller 12. A throw-offmechanism it? produces simultaneous throw-off of both rollers 11 and 12,as will be apparent as the discussion proceeds.

Turning to Figs. 2, 3, and 4-, the socket assembly 14 is set forth ingreater detail. This socket assembly consists of two main parts, a frame24} which is screwed or otherwise rigidly fastened to the inner surfaceof the printing press frame (indicated at 21) and a bearing block 22which is arranged to slide freely in the frame. To this end,- the frameincludes side portions 23, 24- having opposed walls which function as away.

An anti-friction support for the roller is provided in the form of aball bearing 28 which is recessed in a bore 29 in the face of thebearing block.

in order to fix the bearing block in a desired position relative to theframe an adjustable stop is used for limitin'g inward movement. Thisstop includes an adjusting screw .25 which is threaded into the bearingblock and which is arranged to abut a stop plate 26 on the frame. A locknut 27 enables the adjusting screw to be locked in a desired position. g

For clamping the roller firmly in position during operation of the presswhile enabling the roller and its attached bearing blocks to be readilyremoved, a hinged clamp member 30 is employed. This member is hinged toone of the side portions of the frame as indicated at 31. The other endof the clamp member isheld in place by a lock 2%, which includes apivoted bolt 23 which is received in a slotted lug 3%, the lug beingdrawn tight by a wing nut 31. The bearing block 22 is maintained in adownwardly seated position by a take-up spring 32, which is preferablycaptive in the hinged clamp member 30. The take-up spring is secured inthe latter by means of a retaining bolt 33 which carries a pressureplate 34 at its lower end. The degree of expansion of the spring islimited by a nut 35 which is screwed to the upper end of the bolt 33.

To enable throw-oif of the rollers a simple throw-off mechanism 16 isprovided which includes a cam 40 pinned to a rotatable shaft 41. The cam40 is double-ended as shown and is mounted between the socket assemblies14, 15. Each of the bearing blocks is extended inwardly to provide a camfollower surface 42 lying in the path of movement of the cam 44). Itwill be apparent that upon rotating the cam 40 the bearing blocks of theopposed ink rollers will be simultaneously engaged and cammed into theirretracted position, the movement being taken up by compression of thetake-up spring 32 adjacent each block. Similar cam mechanisms areprovided at each side of the press so that both ends of both of the inkrollers are moved simultaneously and to the same degree.

Initial adjustment of the form rollers with respect to the ink drum andplate cylinder is necessary since the form rollers, being rubbercovered, are extremely difiicult to hold to size. My observations showthat there .must be provision for adjustment through a range of diameterof /2, the actual diameter varying plus or minus A from the nominaldiameter. Even after the form roller is initially installed adjustmentsmust be madefrom time to time to allow for swelling of the roller whichoccurs in use. The present arrangement permits these adjust- .rnen-ts tobe made easily and at frequent intervals.

In practicingthe present invention a single adjustment at each endsuffices to adjust the form roller toward and away from both the inkdrum and the plate cylinder. Referring to the diagram of Fig. thetheoretical path of adjustment of the form rollers 11, 12 is indicatedby the dashed line 59. This line is the locus of points equidistant fromthe surface of the plate cylinder and the ink drum respectively. It canbe shown mathematically that such locus is a hyperbolic curve. Thecurvature of the hyperbola is maximum when the form roller is small andthe difference in the diameters of the plate cylinder and ink drumrespectively is large. In this specification and in the claims the locus50 will be referred to as the central path of adjustment of the formrollers.

Still referring to Fig. 5, the center of the plate cylinder is indicatedat P, the center of the ink drum is indicated at D, and the centers ofthe two rubber rollers at R1 and R2, respectively. In the illustratedembodiment of the invention the diameter of the form roller 11 relativeto the diameters and spacing of the plate cylinder and ink drum,respectively, is such that the included angle, P-Rl-D, indicated at A,is 120 for a roller of given nominal diameter. Further, the frame of theink roller socket is so positioned that movement of the roller is guidedalong a straight line path which is the average" of the hyperbolic curve50 over the range of adjustment of the roller 11. This average will bemade clear by reference to Fig. 5a which shows a portion of the curve 50with curvature greatly magnified for purposes of clarity. In this figureand also in Fig. 5 the center of a form roller of nominal diameter isindicated at 51. As mentioned above, the rollers being of rubber, willvary somewhat from nominal size, the variation in diameter being plus orminus A", a total variation range of /2". Since the included angle A is120 the range of adjustment which is required to accommodate rollerswithin such dimensional limits is equal to the range of possiblevariation in diameter, namely, /2". Stated another way, the range ofsocket adjustment is equal to twice the variation in the radius of theink roller.

In Fig. 5a the limits of adjusting movement of the roller socket areindicated at 52 and 53, the distance between them being labeled range ofadjustment, 53 being the position of a properly adjusted roller of minusA" from nominal diameter and 52 the position of a properly adjustedroller of plus /1 from nominal diameter. establish an averagestraight-line path of movement over this range a tangent 54 and a chord55 are constructed. The average path 56 lies midway between the chordand tangent. The direction of this line will be found to bisect theangle A shown in Fig. 5.

Such arrangement of the roller sockets gives rise to a number ofunexpected advantages. As I have shown, it is possible to substitutesimple straight-line ways for the hyperbolic guides which wouldtheoretically be necessary. One skilled in this art might assume thatthis would result in substantial error. As a matter of fact, it can beshown that even where the curvature of the hyperbola is maximum, thestraight line approximates the curve to within .0006" through a range ofroller diameter change of /2". This amount is inconsequential and may bedisregarded.

A further advantage which results from the arrangement disclosed abovelies in the fact that it permits precise adjustment of a replacementoutside the press. Such adjustment may be conveniently performed in ajig. This will be apparent upon reference to the jig and rollerdisclosed in Figs. 6 and 7. The jig includes a bed 60 having ways 61.Roller supporting pedestals 62, 63 are mounted at each end of the jigand one or both of them may be slidably mounted on the ways. Thesepedestals include machined wells or sockets 64, 65 for receiving thebearing blocks 22 at the ends of the roller shaft. Means are provided ineach of these supports for measuring the setting of the adjusting screws25. Referring to the detailed view, Fig. 7, the setting of the adjustingscrew 25 is measured by a dial indicator 66- A simil r of diameter.

dial indicator 67 is provided in the opposite pedestal, forsimultaneously measuring the setting of the adjusting screw at theopposite end of the roller.

Also mounted on the ways 61 is a slidable support 70 having a dialindicator 71 which bears upon the underside of the roller, and serves asa measure of roller diameter. As will become apparent as the discussionproceeds, the indicators 66, 71 are employed in conjunction with oneanother in adjusting the left-hand socket and it is the adjustment ofthis socket which is portrayed in Fig. 7.

In calibrating the jig according to my invention, a properly adjustedreference roller is placed in the jig, after which the dial indicatorsare adjusted to their reference values. The proper roller adjustment maybe determined from purely geometrical considerations for a particularpress, but I prefer that it be determined by an experienced pressmanusing well-known techniques. For example, proper adjustment may bedetermined by inserting three layers of paper between the rollcrs andadjusting them so that the center layer slips with just the right amountof force as determined by past experience. The screws 25 at each end ofthe roller are turned back and forth until this condition is achieved.The reference roller used for this purpose should preferably have adiameter equal to the nominal diameter, this nominal diameter, in thepreferred embodiment, being that which will cause the angle A (Fig. 5)to be In order to more easily understand the operation of the jig and tobring out the principle involved, attention will first be directed toone alternative mode of adjustment in which the dial indicators areassumed to be of the over and under type capable of reading departure ineither direction from a mean zero position of the plunger. Whereindicators of this type are employed the reference roller, pre-adjustedas described above, is placed in the jig and the indicators 66, 67 and71 are all adjusted bodily in a vertical direction so that they readzero. Bodily adjustment may be effected by any desired means. Forexample, the indicators 66, 67 and 71 may be slidably mounted on ways asindicated at 66a, 67a and 71a and maintained in an adjusted verticalposition thereon by means of a set screw or the like (not shown). Finaladjustment of the indicator dials to zero may be effected by anadjustment conventionally provided on the indicator itself.

After all of the indicators are zeroed, the jig is in condition for theadjustment of replacement rubber rollers having a different diameterfrom the reference roller. A replacement roller is slipped into place asshown in Figures 6 and 7. This will cause the indicator 71 to read acertain value which represents the difference in radius of this rolleras compared to the reference roller. For the sake of simplicity it hasbeen assumed in Figure 7 that the indicator 71 on the roller reads 10units. The adjusting screw 25 at the left-hand end of the roller (Fig.7) is then turned until the indicator 66 associated therewith reads anamount which is just twice the reading previously noted on the scale 71,or 20 units. The process is repeated at the other end of the roller,whereupon the roller is completely and accurately adjusted and may beinserted in the press at any place where a roller of equivalent nominaldiameter is used.

The same procedure is applicable to a replacement roller of any diameterprovided it falls within the /2 range In each instance the adjustment ofthe adjusting screws is made such as to give an indicator reading whichis exactly twice the reading of the indicator associated with theroller. This relationship holds for either plus or minus readings, itbeing understood that both indicators read plus units or both indicatorsread minus units. The simple 2:1 ratio on identical dial indicatorsmakes it possible for a new roller to be adjusted with precision byanunskilled operator. This is contrasted with present practice in whicheach form roller must be adjusted in the press,.such adjustment beingextremely critical and time-consuming and requiring a high degree ofskill on the part of the operator. Even where the operator has manyyears of experience he is not absolutely consistent and would notnormally adjust the roller to exactly the same point in a succession oftries.

The significance of the 2:1 adjusting ratio, given by way of example,may be explained upon reference to the diagram of Fig. 5. Since theincluded angle A is, by hypothesis, 120 for a form roller of a givennominal diameter, the angular distance between either R1-D or Ri-P andthe direction of movement of the roller during adjustment will be /2A,or 60. If K is assumed to be the calibration constant, in other words,the ratio of the readings of the two dial indicators, it may beexpressed in terms of the angle A as follows:

Where /2A is 60, K becomes 2. This means that for proper adjustment ofany new roller in the useful range, the dial indicators bearing againstthe respective adjusting screws should be adjusted to read just twicethe reading noted on the dial indicator which rides on the rollersurface.

It will be apparent that the above is an approximation because the angle/zA is 60 only when the actual roller diameter is within A" of thenominal roller diameter. Computations show that the maximum error to beexpected when the roller is at the extreme of the /2 inch usefuldiameter range is .005 inch. Actual tests show that very few pressrnenare capable of setting a roller to within this range over severalrepetitive tests with the same roller.

The above adjusting procedure has been discussed in connection with anover and under type of indicator. Adjustment may be effected equallywell with a more conventional type of indicator in which indicationoccurs only in the forward direction. However, when such conventionalindicators are used the adjusting procedure is varied slightly, asfollows: First of all, in order to prevent bottoming the dial indicators66, 67, I prefer to adjust the position of the dial indicators relativeto their pedestals so that they read zero when the screws 25 are fullyretracted to the surface level of the bearing blocks. This initial stepcan be simply performed by laying a straight edge along the bottoms ofthe sockets 64, 65 and in the path of movement of the indicator plunger.The indicator is then bodily positioned at its way until it reads zero.This insures that the full range of the indicator is available whenadjusting the larger rollers so that the indicator will never be forcedbeyond its normal range and therefore damaged.

After the indicators have been zeroed the pre-adjusted reference rolleris slipped into position. This will, of course, cause the indicators 66,67 to show a certain reading which may, for example, be units, asillustrated in Fig. 7. The two indicators 66, 67, should be checked atthis point in order to insure that they read the same, and if they donot one of them should be adjusted slightly so that the readings areidentical. As the next step in the adjusting procedure, the dialindicator 71 should be bodily adjusted so that the dial reading isexactly half of that of the indicators 66, 67. This reading should bethe same for all positions of the indicator 71 along the surface of theroller. The reference roller may then be lifted out of the jig and thejig is then ready to be used for adjusting replacement rollers. Theadjusting procedure for replacement rollers is exactly the same as thatdescribed above. The replacement roller is lowered into position and theadjusting screws at each end thereof are turned until the dialindicators 66, 67 read exactly double the reading of the dial indicator71.

The invention has thus far been discussed in connection with both theover and under and conventional types of dial indicators. In eachinstance identical indicators have been employed in the three positionson the jig. It will be apparent to one skilled in the art that theinvention is not so limited, but would include the use of dialindicators which are not identical. For example, a dial indicator couldbe used at 71 which includes a 2:1 gear train as a deflectionmultiplier. Thus, instead of reading 10 units, which was the desiredposition of adjustment in the foregoing two examples, the indicatorwould read twice this much, or 20 units. The latter is the same readingas that which was indicative of the desired adjustment on indicators 66,67 in the previous example. The advantage of using a deflectionmultiplier in connection with the roller indicator 71 is that thedesired 2:1 ratio of indicator readings would not have to be kept inmind by the operator. Instead, the operator would be instructed, inadjusting the jig, merely to insert a pro-adjusted reference roller andto adjust the dial indicators, particularly the indicator 71, until thereading on all three dial indicators was the same. Then, to adjust areplacement roller, it would be sufficient to rotate the adjustingscrews 25 thereon until all the indicators again read the same.

Another simple way to conform the indicator 71 is to change the face ofthe scale so that for a given displacement it reads just twice as muchas normal. Regardless of the indicators employed, it is apparent thatthe calibration and adjustment procedure is simplicity itself.

Turning attention now to the remaining roller 12, experience has shownthat this roller should have a nominal diameter which is approximatelyone inch greater than the diameter of the form roller 11. Thus, in thecase of the form roller 12 the included angle shown at B in Fig. 5 isless than and the Zil ratio therefore will not apply to this roller.Preferably, the form roller 12 has a nominal diameter such that anotherconvenient ratio may be employed. My observations show that where thenominal diameter of roiler 12 produces an angle B of 106 15 35 the ratio1:1% will produce proper relative adjustment of the dial indicators.This may be verified as follows:

1 K (calibration constant):

cosine if K is assumed to be 1% or 1.666, then cosine /2 B=.600, fromwhich it is determined that /2 B=53 7' 47%". This condition is met by aform roller 12 which is approximately one inch greater in diameter thanthe form roller 11 previously discussed.

in calibrating the jig for the large form roller the same adjustmentprocedure would be followed as in the case of the small form roller, theonly difference being that the constant K instead of being 2 is 1%. Thusa replacement form roller having the same diameter as roller 12 isplaced in position in the jig and the adjusting screws thereof rotateduntil the dial indicator 66 reads a deflection which is equal to 1 /3times the defiection noted on the indicator 71. This is repeated at bothends of the roiier and the replacement roller is then ready forinstallation in the press without further adjustment.

To make it unnecessary for the operator to keep the 1 /321 ratio in mindwhen adjusting rollers to be used at position 12, it will be apparent toone skilled in the art that a deflection multiplier in the form of agear train or the like may be included in the indicator 71 to step upthe deflection in the same ratio. This is completely analogous to the2:1 step-up ratio which was previously mentioned in connection withrollers for position 13. Provided that deflection is stepped up in thisratio, proper adjustment of the roller adjusting screws 25 will beindicated when all of the three indicators read the same value.

Perhaps the most striking feature of the socket arrangement is the easeof adjustment which it aiiords, the adjusting means being an integralpart of the roller and capable of being adjusted outside of the pressrather than when the roller is installed in the press. Since each rollerhas its own set of adjusting screws, one at either end, pre-adjustedreplacement rollers may be slipped into position with only momentaryshut-down of the press. The socket frame is of simple construction andmay be bolted to the inner face of the main press frame as shown withoutthe necessity for drilling through the frame. Although the adjustment ateach end of the roller is positive, nevertheless the roller may beresiliently backed away from the position of adjustment against theresilient force of the compression springs, for example, when thethrow-off mechanism 16 is operated. The socket assembly is of universalapplication and may be used in any positions and for any rollerdiameters without change merely by fastening the guide frames to thepress in a predetermined position to locate the center of nominal sizedroller to be used and with the frames so oriented that straight linemovement during installation and adjustment will fall along the averagepath 56. Since there are only two main parts, namely, the socket frameand the simple bearing block, the construction is eminently simple andtherefore economical to construct and maintain.

The above description has been limited to the special case where therubber roller contacts the plate cylinder and an ink drum. It will beapparent to anyone skilled in this art that the invention is not solimited and is equally applicable to a rubber roller contacting two inkdrums. It will further be apparent that various resilient material maybe substituted for rubber and consequently the latter shall beconsidered to be used as a generic designation in the claims whichfollow.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a printing press having a pair of rigidly spaced cylinders inspaced parallel relation, a rubber roller assembly comprising incombination a rubber roller, bearing blocks at each end of said roller,frames for mounting said bearing blocks for movement of the roller alonga straight line path of adjustment between said cylinders, manuallyadjustable means on said bearing blocks for adjusting them to a desiredoperating position along said path of adjustment in which the rollerrides in equal contact with said cylinders, said frames being fixedlyattached to the press in such orientation'that the straight line path ofadjustment defined thereby causes the roller to remain equidistant fromeach of said cylinders thronghout the range of adjusting movement.

2. In a printing press, having a pair of rigid cylinders in spacedparallel relation an ink roller assembly comprising a rubber ink rollerhaving a predetermined nominal diameter, bearing blocks at each end ofsaid ink roller for journaling the same, frames fixedly attached to thepress for respective mounting of said bearing blocks for straight lineadjusting movement of the blocks between an operating position and aretracted position, the path of adjusting movement being such as tomaintain the ink roller equidistant from the cylinders over a range ofadjustment extending approximately A1 inch in both directions from theposition occupied by the axis of said roller of nominal diameter whensuch roller is in normal running position, adjustable stops associatedwith said bearing blocks for positioning them relative to theirrespective frames to define the desired operating position of theroller, and releasable means for clamping said bearing blocks in theirrespective operating positions while permitting the roller and bearingblocks to be re- 'frame, a pair of rigid cylinders in spaced parallelrelation and having unlike diameter for contact by a rubber roller,

said cylinders defining a theoretical curved path of ad- 8 justment inwhich-the rubber roller is maintained equidistant from said cylinders, arubber roller, bearing blocks attached to each end of said roller,sockets fixedly attached to the press for mounting said bearing blocksfor movement of the roller along a straight line path of adjustmentbetween said cylinders, the sockets being permanently oriented so thatsaid straight line path is parallel to the theoretical path ofadjustment at a central point which corresponds to the axis location ofa properly adjusted roller having a predetermined nominal diameter, andmanually adjustable means interposed between said bearing blocks andsame frame for adjusting the bearing blocks over a range whichcorresponds to the range of normally encountered variations in thediameter of rubber rollers having the same nominal diameter.

4. In a printing press, the combination comprising spaced frame members,a pair of ink cylinders rigidly journaled in said frame members inspaced parallel relation, a rubber roller assembly, said roller assemblyincluding a rubber roller having rectangular bearing blocks at each endthereof, guide members fixedly fastened to the frame members and havingparallel ways for engaging said bearing blocks for guiding said bearingblocks inwardly and outwardly relative to said cylinders along astraight line path of adjustment, said guide members being so arrangedthat the path of adjustment substantially coincides with a limitedportion of the locus of points equidistant the surfaces of saidcylinders, a pair of stops for limiting the inward movement of saidbearing blocks, said bearing blocks having adjusting screws threadedtherein for bottoming engagement against said stops, a pivoted clampingmember bridgingly arranged in the path of outward movement of each ofsaid bearing blocks, and springs interposed between the clamping membersand respective ones of said bearing blocks for resiliently maintainingsaid adjusting screws bottomed against said stops under operatingconditions.

5. In a printing press having a pair of rigidly spaced cylinders inspaced parallel relation, a rubber roller assembly comprising incombination a rubber roller, bearing blocks at each end of said roller,frames for mounting said bearing blocks for movement of the roller alonga straight line path of adjustment between said cylinders, manuallyadjustable means including threaded connections respectively coupled tosaid bearing blocks for adjusting them to a desired operating positionalong said path of adjustment in which the roller rides in equal contactwith said cylinders, said frames being fixedly attached to the press insuch orientation that the straight line path of adjustment definedthereby causes the roller to remain equidistant from each of saidcylinders throughout the range of adjusting movement.

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